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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Please note about this email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs Sophie Anderson" <soph_anderson17@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: prolinelottery50@sify.com
Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2005 21:26:16 +0000
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Batch No: WD18/0105/05RN
Your Ref: UKNL/255457014/05
Our Ref: UK-NL/0717/05

 
UK OVERSEAS LOTTERY  NOTIFICATION
Dear Lucky Winner,
 
SUBJECT: AWARDS WINNING NOTIFICATION.
 
 We are pleased to notify you officially of the result of the Lottery programs held on the 27th of September 2005 as part of our promotional Olympic programs for the year 2012. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number 77007742781005-18721 with reference number 414-3721060 drew winning numbers 7-00-71-00-66-49 and credited to batch number 121cfc, which consequently won in the 3rd category via our electronic ticket as stated above. You have therefore been approved for a pay out of £1,800,000.00 (One Million Eight Hundred British Thousand Pounds Sterlings).
 
THE PROGRAM WAS HELD BY THE BIGBIG LOTTO THE LEADING LOTTERY ORGANISATION WORLDWIDE IN ASSOCIATION WITH OINK WEBSITE UNITED KINGDOM.
OUR COMPUTER BALLOT QUALIFIED YOU AS ONE OF THE WINNER OF THE SUM OF
£ 1,800,000.00
(ONE MILLION EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND POUND STERLINGS)
 
 
 We also advice that you keep your winning information very confidential as our security policy demands to avoid double claims/impersonation and unwarranted abuse of this program by some individuals. All participants were selected through a random computer ballot system drawn from over 800,000 company and 1,000,000 individual email addresses and names from all over the world.
 
Please NOTE that this program is being sponsored by the LONDON OLYMPIC HOSTING COMMITTEE under the supervision of the THE BIGBIG LOTTO AND THE OINK WEBSITE, to create awareness for the WORLD OLYMPIC GAMES TAKING PLACE IN LONDON IN THE YEAR 2012.
 
To file for your claim, please fill the attached form and send it to officer in charge of the Verification Department
Mrs. Helen Smith. Email address:  prolineloto38@sify.com
Sincerely yours,
Mrs. SOPHIE ANDERSON
Director. International Lottery Unit,
THE BIGBIG LOTTERY AND OINK COMPANY,
UNITED KINGDOM
=========================================================================
APPLICATION FOR PRIZE CLAIM FORM - E
[FULL NAME OF
WINNER]..........................................................................
ADDRESS]........................................................................
[COUNTRY/ REGION]........................................................
[STATE]...........................................................................
[DATE OF BIRTH].........../.............../................. [SEX]......
[OCCUPATION]..................................................
[CURRENT EMAIL].....................................
[TEL/FAX]..................................[MOBILE].................................
=========================================================================
WINNING INFORMATION
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
[TICKET NUMBER]..................................................................................................
[YOUR REF NUMBER].............................................................................................
[PRIZE WON]............................................................................................................
[DATE]..................................
=========================================================================
CLAIMANT SIGNATORY DECLARATION

I ..................................... Declare as the lotto prizewinner that all information I have provided for my winning claims is true and correct information of myself. I agree with the OVERSEAS INTERNATIONAL lottery policy and regulation in line with my lottery claims.
=========================================================================
Please indicate (X) for the option you want your prize remitted to you.
Listed below is our payment modalities and option of payment.

(1) TRAVELLING TO THE UK FOR PRIZE COLLECTION:
[…………]
(2) BY COURIER DELIVERY OF YOUR PRIZE CHEQUE:
[…………]
(3) BY TELEGRAPHICH WIRE TRANSFER TO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT.
[…………]
Our winners are assured of the utmost standards of confidentiality and press anonymity. Be further advised to maintain the strictest level of confidentiality until the end of proceedings to circumvent problems associated with fraudulent claims.
CONGRATULATIONS

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